Improvement-in bustles



UNITED STATES PATENT CEEICE.

CHARLES A. PCSTLEY, OF JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY.

IM PROVEM ENT-I N BUSTLES.

Speeilication forming part of Letters Patent No. 22.242, dated December 7,1858.

To a/ZZ whom,y it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES A. PosTLEY, of Jersey City, in the county of Hudson and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and useful Improvement in the Construction of Bustles for Supporting Ladies7 Dresses, and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of my said invention, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 represent-s a view of my combined extensible and adjustable bustle, and Eig. 2 represents a transverse section of the same at the central hoop.

rlhe object of my invention is to produce a sufficient support for a ladys'dress, that shall be of light weight, and at the same time adjustable to the size and shape of the wearer and to the form which it is desired to give the dress, and shall also be capable of extension or contraction, to adapt it to the dress which it is intended to support.

My invention consists in a bustle composed of a series of elastic hoops and ribs connected together by slides in such manner that the diameters of the hoops can bc extended or contracted, and their positions in relation to each other and to the ribs can be changed, as well as the relation of the ribs to each other.

rThe bustle represented inthe accompanying drawings embodies my improvement. lt is composed of three ribs, A B C, which extend in directions to embrace the waist of the wearer,` and of five hoops, D E E G H, which are connected with the ribs in directions transverse thereto, and which sustain them at eer tain definite distances apart. The innermost or main waist-rib, A, is fitted with strings I' J, by which it is secured to the wearer. The other two, B and C, are connected with the 'main waist-rib by slide-clasps m m, which permit them to be adjusted upon the main rib so as to adapt the curvature of the complete bustle to the size and shape of the waist of the wearer.

The hoops D E F Gr H are each composed of a strip of elastic material, whose extremities are secured to each other by slide-clasps 0 o, so that each hoop may be expanded or contracted in perimeter, as may be desired. Each hoop is connected with the waist-ribs by means of slide-clasps?, which permit each hoop to be set in any desired position with reference to the other hoops of the series, and with reference to the waist-ribs.

The bustle thus constructed is adjustable by the movement of the hoops and of the waistribs upon each otherto the form and size of the wearer. It is also adjustable to theform which it is desired to impart to the dress, as the hoops may be slid to and fro upon the ribs to impart a greater or less fullness in the vicinity ofthe hips. The construction of the hoops also permits ofthe extension of the size ot' the bustle or of its contraction, to adapt it to the dress which it is intended to support.

The ribs and hoops of the bustle thus described may be formed of any suitable mate rial, that which I prefer being strips of springsteel covered by braiding. The number of hoops may also be increased or diminished, and the number of its ribs may be varied without affecting the principle of my invention, and, although I prefer to employ exten sible hoops, my invention is not limited to hoops of that description. Astrap and buckle, also, or an elastic strap, or any analogous device, may be employed in place ofthe strings to attach the bustle to the wearer.

.Vhat l claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The combination of adjustable hoops and adjustable waist-ribs, arranged in the manner herein described, so that the size of the bustle and the position of the hoops may be variedl to suit the wearer.

In testimony whereof l have hereunto subscribed my name. CHARLES A. POSTLEY.

Witnesses:

T. STUYvEsANT,

CHAs. E. PATTERSON. 

